Situation:A number of cooking operations are dependant upon some type of timing device to ensure that the food is prepared to the required standard.

Design Brief:Design a contemporary ‘Egg Timer’ appropriate for a domestic environment;

Identification & Analysis:• An electronic system is required incorporating a timing

device • Some type of interesting product/casing design to house

the electronics system and battery?• An output device – light / audible tone?

An Electronic Egg Timer

Recognition of Constraints:

• My design, communicating and manufacturing capability, knowledge and skills; • The type of manufacturing processes available;• Materials accessible;• Tools, machines and equipment;• Function and ease of use• Hygiene – ease of cleaning• Location of PCB and battery

An Electronic Egg Timer

Investigation & Research:

Design inspiration!! Where do I start?

• Observe and analysis existing timers – mechanical, electrical - reverse engineering;

• Research for ideas – internet, magazines, books etc• Reference to existing ideas or stimuli should

demonstrate how these materials have influenced your thinking around the problem or stimulated the thought process / ideas?

• Designing using Mood Boards & reference materials

An Electronic Egg Timer

An Electronic Egg Timer

Design Opportunities: Designing for Manufacturing

1. How will the parts fit together?

2. How will the PCB be mounted?

3. How will the battery be mounted securely and

accessed?

4. How will the potentiometer be located?

5. How will the base be fitted?

6. How will the time be registered?

7. What type of output device will be required and

where will it be located?

8. How can we include detail into the design to

enhance the aesthetics?

An Electronic Egg Timer

Suggested transistor Timer Circuit No. 39 from 112 Working Circuits

Research circuit No. 40 for alternative output !

An Electronic Egg Timer

Suggested 555 Timer Circuit

No. 37 from 112 working circuits

Research circuit No. 38 for off for a period!

An Electronic Egg Timer

Design a former from any one of the given block shapes

that is appropriate for the vacuum forming process. The

form should be suitable as a casing design for an Egg

Timer.

Designing for Manufacture:

An Electronic Egg Timer Suggested Idea 1

Suggested Idea 1

Former turned on the Wood Lathe

Vacuum formed using rigid polystyrene sheet

An Electronic Egg Timer

Suggested Idea 2

An Electronic Egg Timer

Internal egg rack

Show sketches of your ideas for a base?

An Electronic Egg Timer

An Electronic Egg Timer

A semi-sphere may be used as a basic geometrical shape for vacuum forming. This casing will house the electronic PCB and battery. Design an interesting feature that could be located to the base to show the different time delays.

An Electronic Egg Timer

Using graphics or model using CAD, to sketch different ideas for a feature which would add to the aesthetics - of this basic design;

Pictorial view Front view

Suggested Idea 3

An Electronic Egg Timer

How will the PCB & Battery be mounted?

Contemporary kitchen timers

An Electronic Egg Timer

Inspiration!

• How will part (A) fit-into part (B)? • How & where will the potentiometer be fitted?

An Electronic Egg Timer

Suggested Idea 4

An Electronic Egg Timer

potentiometer

base

Fittin

g the p

otentio

meter?

An Electronic Egg Timer

Suggested Idea 4 developed

An Electronic Egg Timer

Suggested Idea 5

An Electronic Egg Timer

Suggested Idea 6

An Electronic Egg Timer

Suggested Idea 6 fabricated in acrylic plastic

An Electronic Egg Timer

Suggested Idea 6 fabricated in wood

An Electronic Egg Timer

Suggested Idea 7 fabricated

An Electronic Egg Timer

Male and female former

Outcome after trimming

Acrylic sheet heated in the oven and press-moulded

Press Moulding

An Electronic Egg Timer

Finished & assembled

An Electronic Egg Timer

Suggested Idea 8 fabricated

An Electronic Egg Timer

An Electronic Egg Timer

PCB, printed circuit board

How will the pcb be mounted?